Read Created In Fire (Art of Love Series) for Free Online

could her family possibly do that was so awful?
    She looked—well, she looked like she had the day she’d shown up to tell him about the baby, which was even worse because Michael hadn’t seen her look much like her real self since.
    “Carrie—I’m not here for your parents’ sake. I’m here for you. I won’t let them use me to hurt you,” Michael told her, hoping he could pull it off.
    He would fight his impatience and dig for the tolerance it would take.
    He’d channel his father, the calmest man he’d ever met in his life. He would be calm and polite.
    “I appreciate your noble thoughts about being on your best behavior for my sake,” Carrie said sarcastically, as they pulled into her parents’ extended graveled driveway. “It will just be wasted on this group. Don’t worry. I know how to handle them. We won’t stay long, and they won’t expect me to. After bringing home a few dates, I stopped bringing men here. It wasn’t worth what my family put them through.”
    When she climbed from the car, Michael frowned at the resigned look in her eyes. Her shoulders were drooping so much, she was practically bent forward. She kept her eyes on the ground as she walked, never lifting them to the early September sunshine or the wind blowing in the trees. Michael thought Carrie didn’t even look like herself.
    He was already mad at her family before he even crossed their threshold.
    *** *** ***
     
    Carrie tapped on the front door of the long brick ranch house she’d grown up in, and opened it quietly.
    “Hello,” she called, stepping inside with Michael close on her heels.
    Her mother dashed out of the kitchen to the hallway, arms open as she came to them.
    “Carlene, why have you stayed away so long? Have you lost weight? You seem thinner,” Maggie Addison said, wrapping her arms tightly around her oldest daughter, fighting not to be hurt when there was no answering hug.
    “Mom, this is Michael Larson. Michael—this is my mother, Margaret Addison,” Carrie said, stepping aside to let Michael shake her mother’s hand.
    “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Addison,” Michael said politely, taking the woman’s hand in his.
    He was surprised to find her grip a lot firmer than he would have imagined judging from the fact her gaze wouldn’t even hold his for more than two seconds. She was about Carrie’s height and looked very much like an older version of her daughter, except for her very blonde hair laced with even brighter silver strands.
    Michael Larson wasn’t very tall, Maggie thought, but he was very broad shouldered and had a grip of iron. Her husband Ethan wasn’t going to intimidate this one so easily, she thought, ultimately deciding that was a bonus for Carlene. She searched Michael Larson’s face, seeing dark determined eyes assessing her back. It made her a little nervous the way he kept his gaze locked on hers, never looking away.
    “Everyone’s in the back yard. I was just finishing up lunch,” Maggie said, shaking off her nerves. “Take Michael out and introduce him to everyone, Carlene. I’ll be out in a moment with some tea.”
    Carrie reached down and picked up Michael’s hand with her cold one. He looked at her but said nothing as his warm fingers closed around hers.
    Darla and Alison were on the patio when Carrie slid the door open. They fairly jumped into her arms to hug her.
    Here was warmth and love, Michael thought, smiling as the younger girls hugged Carrie and patted her face.
    They chattered on about school and things while Michael took in their similarities to their sister. They would have looked like a set of triplets except for Carrie’s brunette locks. Obviously, her sisters had taken after their mother in appearance.
    Carrie turned to Michael and made introductions, not surprised to see both her sisters perking up considerably as they took in Michael’s appearance.
    Michael’s masculine looks were rustic and earthy. He looked exceptional today in new jeans and a crisp